Jeanette Holloway, 36, and Matt Gilles, 28, met for the first time Tuesday evening near the flowers, signs and candles left in downtown Orlando to honor the 49 people killed and 53 injured last weekend at Pulse, a LGBT nightclub in the city.
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News4Jax honored a request from Pastor Bruce Jones that cameras not be allowed inside as the service was going on.
That’s a message that drew Jacksonville-native Chuck Chapman in Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday night, the University of North Florida honored victims, families and communities impacted by the mass shooting in Orlando.
“As Christians, we respond to these things in prayer”, he said.
An LGBT advocacy group and a local Unitarian Universalist church are holding a candlelight vigil and walk in Portsmouth to honor the victims of the worst mass shooting in modern US history.
“Community is a word I would use to define the LGBT people”, says Mitchell Hammonds with the Charleston Pride Festival.
There were 49 people killed by the lone gunman inside the popular club.
He said this year’s event is the first time it will be held in the city.
“It’s filling my heart with love, and we need that”, Chapman said.
“Some of us were asking, ‘Why Orlando?’ That’s not a place we usually go to”, Jones said.
“We woke up to the news of this tragedy”. She said she should not need to “be sorry” for being Muslim, but can still grieve as a member of the community.
The event brought hundreds to the campus.
“We are aware of the ways that abuse and hatred toward those of us who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer continues even here in this community”, said Klaassen.
We are reminded that these people are more than just their names – They are children, mothers, fathers, significant others and most importantly loved ones.
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UNF plans on holding a prayer vigil and blood driver later this week.
